Men's Basketball

Introducing... Caltech Men's Basketball Class of 2022

Jun 06, 2018

PASADENA (July 17, 2018) – Four talented freshmen are set to join a Caltech men's basketball team that graduated just one senior in 2018 in David Kawashima (Studio City, Calif. / North Hollywood), the sixth-most accurate shooter in program history.

Noah Barnes

Ethan Eason

Stephen Hei

Riley O'Neil

Springfield, Va.

Bellevue, Wash.

Newcastle, Wash.

Santa Rosa, Calif.

Jefferson

Mercer Island

Liberty

Montgomery

Noah Barnes
Springfield, Va. / Jefferson
6-2, Combo Guard

DMV native Noah Barnes comes to Caltech from the Beltway House of Hoops AAU program. A sound competitor on the court and in the classroom, Barnes can help the Beavers immediately with a battle-tested all-around game and basketball IQ. He averaged 16 points per game over his senior year at Jefferson High School and topped out at 40 points, 10 rebounds and six three-pointers against Washington Math/Science last November.

"Noah is a very strong and skilled guard who can score in multiple manners," Head Coach Dr. Oliver Eslinger said. "He has a knack for creating shots all over the court and will contribute immediately on the offensive and defensive ends. He comes from a basketball family and a high school program we've known for years."

Ethan Eason
Bellevue, Wash. / Mercer Island
6-3, Wing

A former co-captain and league honorable mention at Mercer Island High School, Ethan Eason started every game his junior year and possesses a great deal of upside thanks to his athletic profile and explosiveness off the dribble. Not lacking in discipline and accountability on both sides of the ball, Eason could be a player to watch over the next four years.

"Ethan has a great combination of length and athleticism," Eslinger said. "He will provide much needed bounce and slashing abilities to complement our terrific shooting and space game. He can finish in creative ways at the rim and run the floor with the best of them."

Stephen Hei
Newcastle, Wash. / Liberty
6-3, Wing

A former adversary of future teammate Ethan Eason on the Western Washington high school circuit, Stephen Hei showed an ability to star for Liberty High School in the frontcourt and backcourt. Hei has a nose for the basket, as evidenced by a 27-point performance against Eason's Mercer Island in January where he went 9-for-11 from the foul line. The Washingtonian could find himself competing for immediate playing time thanks to his ability to get up-and-down and fit a multitude of roles.

"Stephen possesses a unique blend of basketball skills that make him a versatile scorer and defender," Eslinger said. "His ability to rebound with sheer will and athleticism will help us develop and compete on every possession. He is a leader in every sense of the word."

Riley O'Neil
Santa Rosa, Calif. / Montgomery
6-5, Forward

A multi-sport athlete and the tallest member of this year's men's basketball class, Riley O'Neil also played first singles on the Montgomery High School men's tennis team. O'Neil's combination of athleticism and size will certainly be an asset to the Beavers, but the California native also showed a propensity to make plays all over the court as a member of the Vikings. O'Neil profiles similarly to rising sophomore forward Spencer Schneider (Houston, Texas / Clearbrook), who saw his fair share of success as a member of the Caltech frontcourt who can also bounce outside and shoot the trey.

"Riley is a very important piece to this class as he is a heady forward who does what it takes to help his team be successful," Eslinger said. "He can score inside, face up and shoot, and is a good ball mover. He will be counted on to defend, rebound, and make plays for himself and others."